Fluid meter



A rilslu, 194s. w, FQBERCK v I 239,316

FLUID METER Filed March 6, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 21 B D 7 15 22 H |""i-INVENTOR.

- .B'Y @M Q- Arroemsg April 30, W46. w. .F. BERCK FLUID MET R FiledMarch 6, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

'ATTOENEK I ai------ JT: C

Aprifl 3Q, 1946. w. F. BE-RCK FLUID METER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March6, 1944 I INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 30, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUID METER WilliamF. Berck, Oakland, Calif., assignor to Ralph N. Brodie Company, Oakland,Calif., a corporation of California Application March 6, 1944, SerialNo. 525,264

4 Claims.

This invention relates to fluid meters of the type shown in UnitedStates Letters Patent No. 1,895,318. Y

Meters of the type disclosed in the aforesaid Letters Patent of theUnited States are provide-:1 with a pair of parallel cylinders, each ofwhich is formed with inlet and outlet ports in it's peripheral wallextending longitudinally thereof. A reciprocable and oscillatory pistonis mounted in each cylinder, and each piston is formed with ports in itsperipheral wall to some extent complementary to the ports formed in thecylinders. The piston ports communicate with opposite ends of thepistonand are intended to register with the cylinder ports as the pistonreciprocates and oscillates in the cylinder. The arrangement and thetiming of the registering of the ports is such that as liquid entersthrough the inlet ports and through the registered piston ports into oneend of the cylinder, the piston will be moved by the pressure of suchfluid endwi'se to displace the liquid at the other end of the cylinder.The displaced liquid will discharge of course, through the piston portsand cylinder outlet ports which are in register. crank mechanism so thatas it moves endw'is'e, it likewise moves circumferentially to properlysynchronize the registration of the piston and 0371- inder ports.

The" length of the crank stroke and the relative positions of the pistonand cylinder ports is such that just prior to the end of the pistondisplacement stroke, the piston portsare placed out of register with thecylinder ports, and this closing of the ports occurs just prior to crankdead center. As the two pistons are connected to ether with the crankmechanism and are set at ninety degrees apart, the opposite piston willmove the one which is on dead center over dead center so that its portswill oppositely register with the cylinder ports so as to move thepiston in the opposite direction and displace the liquid in the oppositeend of the cylinderr The cylinder and piston ports Each piston isconnected to a 7 must be fully out of register before dead center or Mbefore the end of one displacement stroke, and cannot be opened until pst dead center on the succeeding displacement troke for the reason thatis is mechanically impossible to maintain an effective seal by thepiston between the inlet and outlet cylinder ports exactly at deadcenter.

Therefore, some compression results in that end of the cylinder fromwhich the fluid has just been displaced, and. a tendency to create avacuum occurs between the opposite end of the piston and theopposite endof the'cylinder at the end of each displacement stroke between theclosing of the ports and dead center. Likewise, a tendency to produce apartial vacuum occurs between the end of the piston and cylinder fromwhich liquid has just been displaced and some compression resultsbetween the opposite ends of the piston and cylinder between the deadcenter and the opening or registry of the piston and cylinder portsatthe commencement of each displacement stroke. The portion of thestrokes between closing of the ports and dead center and between deadcenter and the opening of the ports is an amount represented by theamount of circumferential piston face which must overlap the edges ofthe cylinder ports to efiect a seal, and thereby prevent flow of fluiddirectly between the inlet and outlet cylinder ports, which flow, ofcourse, will not be measured by the meter no'r shown in its countingmechanism.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a meterof the character referred to whichis of a construction eliminatingcompre'ssion and tendency to create a vacuum at the ends of the pistonstrokes, while maintaining a fully effective seal between the inlet andoutlet cylinder ports.

One forrn which the invention may assume is exemplified in thefollowing'description and illustrated by way of example in the accmpanyin drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a view partly in end elevation and transverse section through'a meter embodying the preferred form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the meter shown in Fig. 1,taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3 is a bottom view of one of the cylindersof the meter, with parts broken away and in sec tion to more fullydisclose certain features of construction.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of one of the pistons employed, with partsbroken away and in section to more clearly disclose its construction.

Figs. 5, 6, '7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are diagrammatic views showing themanner in which the main and auxiliary ports of the pistons co-act withthe main and auxiliary ports of the cylinders. I

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, I [I indicatesa fluid meter of the d splacement type and generally of the character ofthe fluid meter shown in the aforesaid Letters Patentof theUnitedjStates. This meter comprises a meter casing I having headmembers- I 2 at the ends thereof. The meter casing H is municates withan intake chamber l5 within the casing. The meter casing is also formedwith an outlet connection communicating with an outlet chamber li formedwithin the casing and sepa rated, of course, from the inlet chamber.Auxiliary passages J are likewise formed in the casin H and are separatefrom the intake and outlet chambers l5 and 11.,

Formed within the meter casing are two meter ing cylinders is which arearranged in parallelism and which are identical in construction, as willbe described. The peripheral wall of each cylinder I9 is formed withfour main ports E, F, G and H. These ports include two inlet ports E andF and two outlet ports G and H. The inlet ports E formed with an intakeconnection M, which comwill enter into the end X of the cylindercommunicating with the inlet ports through the piston portsA and B andby its pressure move the piston toward the opposite end XX of thecylinder. At the same time the other two piston ports C and D will be inregister with the outlet ports G and H of the cylinder so that as theliquid is displaced in the end of the cylinder XX communicating with theoutlet ports G and H through the piston ports C and D, it will passthrough the piston ports 0 and D and the outlet ports G and H into theoutlet chamber I1 of the meter casing and discharge through the outletconnection. However, as the piston moves endwise, it likewise revolvesin order that at the end of its displacement stroke, it can reverse theregistration of the and F both form a means of communication between theinlet chamber l5 and the interior of the cylinder l9, and the outletports G and H form a means of communication between the interior of thecylinder [9 and the outlet chamber H. The inlet ports E and F are formedsubstantially midway between the ends of the cylinder at diametricallyopposite sides thereof, while the outlet ports G and H areformedatdiametrically 0pposite points at the top and bottom of thecylinder l9 and substantially midway between the ends thereof, as isillustrated. Each cylinder is formed with the auxiliary passages orports J forming a communication between the ends of the cylinder and theoutlet ports through the medium of piston ports in the associated pistonat a proper time during the cycle of the piston operation.

Reciprocably mounted in each cylinder I9 is a reciprocable andoscillatory piston 20, most clearly illustrated in Fig. 4. Each pistonis formed with four main piston ports A, B, C and D, which are equallyspaced about the periphery of the piston and which extend longitudinallythereof, The

piston 20 comprises a cylindrical wall 2| interiorly and transverselydivided by a partition 22. Two of the ports, or those indicated ,by theletters A and B, are formed through the cylindrical wall 2i andcommunicating with one end of the piston, while the piston ports 0 and Dare formed through the piston wall 2| and communicating with theopposite end of the piston. In order that the ports may extendlongitudinally for a distance greater than one-half the length of thepiston, those portions of the ports extending beyond the partitionareenclosed by side and bottom walls, as illustrated. Throughout theentire length of the ports A and B they communicate solely with one endof the piston, while throughout their entire length the ports 0 and Dcommunicate solely with the interior of the opposite end of the piston.Each piston is likewise formed with a shallow auxiliary passageway Kalong its bottom surface extending short of the ends of the piston, asillustrated. l 7

As before stated, the pistons 20 are mounted for reciprocating andoscillatory movement in the cylinders l9 and it is intended that theyrevolve about their axes during their endwise movement in order that theregistration {of the ports A, B, C and D and the auxiliary passageway Kwith the main cylinder ports E, F, G and H and auxiliary cylinder portsJ may be efiected at properly timed intervals to effect the operation ofthe meter, as will be described.

In general, assuming that the piston is, centrally located in thecylinder, two of the, piston ports A and ,B will be in register with theinlet ports E and F of the cylinder 19 so that fluid from the inletchamber l5 of the meter casing ports so that the piston will be drivenin the opposite direction by the pressure of the inlet fluid.

To revolve the pistons and also to operate the same in synchronism, theyare each connected by centrally located radially projecting crank arms24 and gears to a common crank member 25 at ninety degrees apart. Thiscrank member operates in a plane parallel to the axis of reciprocationof the pistons so that as the latter move endwise, the crank is revolvedand by so doing turns the pistons on their axes first in one directionand then the other during each complete cycle of the crank.

As the piston cranks are ninety degrees apart, one will be on deadcenter while the other will be half-way through a displacement strokeand will constitute the medium for moving the piston on dead center pastdead center so that it may commence its displacement stroke, all astaught by the aforesaid patent. However, if the cylinder ports areclosed prior to dead center and not opened again until after dead centeris past, compression at one end of the cylinder and a tendency to creata vacuum occurs between'closing of the ports and dead center and again,but in reverse order, between dead center and opening of the ports. Thiscannot be avoided because it is practically impossible mechanically toefiect a seal by the piston between the ports at only precisely deadcenter because an appreciable overlap of piston surface and cylinderport edge is necessary to effect such a seal.

The eiiect of such compression and tendency to create a vacuum is toincrease the energy consumed in operating the meter which results inpressure drop across the meter and detracts from the efiiciencyof themeter.

I eliminate such compression and tendency to create a vacuum in thepresent meter by its improved construction and port arrangement. Toillustrate this I shall describe one cycle of operation of one piston ofthe meter.

Assuming that the piston 20 is at the center of its stroke, asillustrated in Figs; 5 and 6, and it is moving in a direction toward theend XX of the cylinder, the. piston ports A' and, B in the end of thepiston 20 communicating with the end X of the cylinder IE: will: be incommunication with the two inlet ports E and F, as shown, .so that theliquid from the, inlet chamber l5 will enter into the end of thecylinderX, moving the piston inthe direction towardthe cylinder end XX.At'the same time the piston 20 will be revolving slowly in the directionof the arrow a, moving the piston ports A and B toward closed position.At the same time the revolution of the piston will be moving the pistonports C and D, which are then acting asv outlet ports in the endof thecylinder XX toward closed position,

At this time, oi course, the fluid in the endof the cylinder XX is beingdisplaced by the piston and is discharging through the piston ports Cand D and the outlet ports G and H in the cylinder to the outlet chamberH. v i

As the piston continues to revolve, it will assume the positionshown inFigs. 7 and 8 with the closing edge of the piston ports A and B in exactregister with the edge of the inlet ports Ev and F, as shown. At thistime the opening edge of the auxiliary passage K in the piston 20 is inexact register with the edge of the auxiliary port J in the end XX ofthe cylinder. However, at this time the relationship between the pistonports A, B, C and D and the cylinderports E, F, G and H is such that theports C and D are not as yet closed. At this time the position of thepiston crank is such that the crank will be approximately flve degreesahead of dead center so that a slight additional amount of endwisetravel of the piston 20 is necessary before dead center is reached, sothat at dead center the closing edges of the piston ports A and B willoverlap five degrees the adjacent edges of the inlet ports E and F inthe cylinder l9, and the auxiliary port J in the end X of the cylinderwill be in full register with the auxiliary piston passage K, as shownin Fig. 8, so as to admit fluid through the auxiliary port J into theend X of the cylinder to prevent a tendency to create a vacuum. Thepassageway K will, of course, as shown, establish communication betweenthe end of the cylinder X and the auxiliary passageway J and the outletchamber I! through the outlet port H.

At the same time in the end XX of the cylinportsG and H in the cylinder.That is to say,

that when the piston passes dead center and commences to move toward theend X of the cylinder, there is still communication between the end XXof the cylinder and the outlet chamber. I

It is desired to point out that as the piston continues to revolve inthe same direction, the ports A and B of the piston become the dischargeor outlet ports for the end X of the cylinder, while the piston ports Cand D become the inlet ports for the end XX of the cylinder.

Assuming now that dead center is precisely reached, as the pistoncontinues to travel in the direction of the arrow (1, the closing edgeof the piston ports C and D, will register with the edge of the outletports G and H in the cylinder l9 sometime between dead center and fivedegrees beyond dead center, or until the parts reach the position shownin Figs. 11 and 12. At this point the ports A and B have registered withthe outlet ports G and H to form a communication between the end X ofthe cylinder and the outlet chamber H. The commencement of registrationof the ports A and B with the outlet ports G and H of the cylinderoccurs sometime within five degrees of dead center, or after theirclosing edges have passed the edges of the inlet ports. From this pointon, the cycle of operation in the end XX of the cylinder and thecooperation between the piston ports and auxiliary passageway K and theinlet, outlet and auxiliary ports of the cylinder is the same in end XXof the cylinder l9 just as described in connection with end X of the.cylinder.

,lE desire to point out, however, that as the piston moved toward theend XX and the closing edge of the piston ports A and B registered withthe edge of the inlet cylinder ports E and F to close the same, theauxiliary passage K of the piston registered with the edge of theauxiliary port in the cylinder so as to open this port intocommunication with the end X of the cylinder I9 just as the inletcylinder ports E. and F are closed. This is so that fluid may enter theend X of the cylinder l 9 during the time that the inlet ports E and Fof the cylinder H! are closed to the end X of the cylinder l9, andregistration of the auxiliary passageway Kin the piston 20 with theauxiliary port J in the cylinder. continues throughout the time that theinlet ports E and F in the cylinder are closed to the end X of thecylinder.

Consequently, the auxiliary passage K in the piston does not go out ofregister with the auxiliary port J in the cylinder I9 at the end X ofthe cylinder until the ports A and B come into register with the outletports G and Hot the cylinder, at which time, of course, the auxiliarypassage K goes out of register with the auxiliary port J in the end X ofthe cylinder. The auxiliary passage K at the opposite end of the pistoncooperates with the auxiliary port J in the end XX of the cylinder inexactly the same fashion.

Therefore, it is seen that as the piston 29 advances on a displacementstroke, no compression can possibly occur just prior to dead center dueto the fact that there is a constant communication between theendof thecylinder in which the liquid is being displaced and the outlet chamherI? at all times during the displacement stroke of the piston 20.Likewise, the end of the cylinder in which fluid is to be displaced onthe succeeding piston stroke is in communication with the outlet ports Gand H through the auxiliary pert J and passage K during the time that itis out of communication with the inlet chamber, so that there can be notendency to create a V9.01}: um therein.

Also, it is seen that when the piston ends its advance on a displacementstroke and commences the opposite displacement stroke, no vacuum canoccur at the filled end of the cylinder due to the fact that theauxiliary passageway K will be in communication with the, auxiliary portJ, and no compression can be had at the opposite end of the cylinder dueto the fact that it will be in communication with the outlet port.Therefore, it is seen that by. my invention I have eliminated in metersof the character referred to any possibility of compression and atendency to effect a vacuum at the ends of the piston strokes, and thusI have minimized the amount of energy necessary to operate the pistonand have reduced the pressure drop across the meter to a minimum.Obviously when the pistons reciprocate, they will drive the crankmechanism, and this crank mechanism in addition to synchronizing theoperation of the pistons is connected with the counter mechanism of themeter to count or register the piston strokes and interpret the sameinto gallons or other units of liquid measure.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it is to beunderstood that various changes may be made in its construction by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I s-9am claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is;

1. A fluid meter comprising a metercasinghaving a pair of'cylindersformedtherein, each cylin: derbeing formed with a pair of inlet portsand a pair of outlet ports alternately arranged with relation totheinlet ports, a piston in each cylinder a central transverse partition ineach piston, two pairs of ports in the periphery of each piston; eachpair of ports being in communication with opposite ends of the piston,means to cause the pistons to oscillate in synchronism upon reciprocablemovement thereof, said ports being so disposed that one pair in eachpiston registers with the inlet ports and-the other pair with the outletports and being so spaced'as to alternately register with the inlet andoutlet ports in the cylinders upon oscillation of. the piston, andcomplemental auxiliary port and passageway means at opposite ends ofeach cylinder and piston for alternately establishing communicationbetween the cylinder ends and the outlet ports during the timecommencing when said-ends are out of communication with the inlet portsandenduring to the time said ends are placed in communication with theoutlet ports by'the piston ports.

2. A fluid meter comprising a meter casing having a pair of cylindersformed therein, each cylinder being'formed with a pair of inlet portsand a pair of outlet ports alternately arranged with relation to theinlet ports, a piston in each cylinder, a central transverse partitionin each piston, two pairs of ports in the periphery of each piston, eachpair of ports being in communication with opposite ends of the piston,means to cause the pistons to oscillate in synchronism uponreciproca'ble movement thereof, said ports being so relatively'disposedand the oscillatory stroke of each piston being such that the pairs ofpiston ports alternately registerwith the inlet and outlet ports Withone pair of piston ports in each piston becoming out of register withthe inlet ports and subsequently in register with the outlet ports priorto the other pair of piston ports becoming out of register with theoutlet ports and subsequently coming into register with the inlet ports,and complemental auxiliary port and passageway means at opposite ends ofeach cylinder and Diston for alternately establishing communicationbetween the cylinder ends and the outlet ports during the timecommencing when said cylinder ends are out of communication with saidinlet ports and enduring until the time said ends are placed incommunication with the outlet ports by the piston ports. g g

3. A fluid meter comprising a meter casing having a pair of cylindersformed therein, each cylinder being formed with a pair of inlet portsand a pair of outlet ports alternately arranged with relation to theinlet ports, a piston in each cylinchar, a central transverse partitionin each piston, two pairs of ports in the periphery of each piston.eachpair of ports being in communication with opposite ends of thepiston, means to cause the pistons to oscillate in synchronism uponrecipfocable movement thereof, said ports being so disposed that'onepair in each piston registers with the inletports and the other pairwith the outlet ports and being so spaced as to alternately registerwith the inlet and outlet ports in' the cylindersupon oscillation of thepiston, each of said cylinders being formed with auxiliary ports, eachof said pistons being formed with auxiliary passageways in itsperipheral surface to cooperate with said auxiliary ports, saidauxiliary ports and passageways being so relatively disposed and sorelatively positioned with respect to the other ports as to alternatelyestablish communication between the cylinder ends and the outlet portsduring the time commencing when said ends are out of communication withthe inlet ports and enduring until the time said ends are placed incommunication with the outlet ports by the piston ports.

4. A fluid meter comprising a meter casing having a pair of cylindersformed therein, each cylinder being formed with a pair of inlet portsand a pair of outlet ports alternately arranged with relation to theinlet ports, a piston in each cylinder, a central transversepartitionineach piston, two pairs of ports in: the periphery of each piston, eachpair of ports being in communication with opposite ends of the piston,means to cause the pistons to oscillate in synchronism upon reciprocablemovement thereof, said ports being so relatively disposed and theoscillatory stroke of each piston being such that the pairs of pistonports alternately register with the inlet and outlet ports with one pairof piston ports in each piston becoming out of register with the inletPorts and subsequently in register with the outlet ports prio to theother pair of piston ports becoming out or register with the outletports and subsequently coming into register with the inlet ports, eachof said cylinders being formed with auxiliary ports, each of saidpistons being formed with aux-' iliary passageways in its peripheralsurface to 00- operate with said auxiliary ports, said auxiliary portsand passageways being so relatively disposed and so relativelypositioned with respect to the other ports as toalternately establishcommunication between the cylinder ends and the outlet 7 ports duringthe time commencing when said ends

